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America at Mid-Century 1952-1963. AMERICAN SOCIETY AT MID-CENTURY Objective… Identify the elements of mass culture and explain the criticism of mass culture.

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Presentation on theme: "America at Mid-Century 1952-1963. AMERICAN SOCIETY AT MID-CENTURY Objective… Identify the elements of mass culture and explain the criticism of mass culture."— Presentation transcript:

1 America at Mid-Century 1952-1963

2 AMERICAN SOCIETY AT MID-CENTURY Objective… Identify the elements of mass culture and explain the criticism of mass culture.

3 Mass culture - AKA “Pop culture” The norms (ideas, perspectives, attitudes & behaviors) promoted by the mass media and accepted by the majority of a given culture. 1950s = Conformity Why?

4 FACTS about the 1950s… US Population: 152,000,000 Life expectancy: W 71.1 - M 65.6 Labor force male/female: 5/2 What Things Cost in 1950… Car: $1,750 Gas:.27 cents/gal House: $14,500 – Bread:.14 cents/loaf - Milk:.82 cents/gal Postage:.03 cents Min. Wage:.75 cents per hr Av. Salary: $3,000-$3,800

5 John Kenneth Galbraith The Affluent Society… 1) Galbraith’s criticism of American society…

6 The Eisenhower Presidency Objective… Describe Eisenhower’s leadership style & political philosophy on the role of government.

7 Results of the 1952 Election.. Party Elector Pop Vote% Eisenhower: Rep… 442… 55% Stevenson: Dem… 89… 44%

8 DDE’s biography… Born in1890 into a poor Texas family Public education 1915 - Graduates West Point 1917 - WW I veteran & Advisor to MacArthur 1943 - N. African campaign & D-Day 1945 - Allied Commander 1945 - President Columbia University 1950 - Leader of N.A.T.O. 1952 - Elected U.S. President – 2 terms 1961- Retires in Gettysburg, PA 1969 - Dies in Washington DC

9 Dwight D. Eisenhower Dynamic Conservatism or Modern Republicanism “Conservative when it comes to money and liberal when it comes to human beings” - DDE ” “A middle of the road Republican” 2) DDE’s leadership style…

10 The DDE Presidency 3) DDE’s “corporate commonwealth?”… A) DDE’s appointments reflect… B) Who should guide the economy… 4) What were the consequences of DDE’s environmental policy?

11 "Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are...Texas oil millionaires and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid." 5) What New Deal legacy did DDE accept?

12 The DDE Presidency 6) DDE’s views on “pumping the economy”… -The consequences of these views… 7) What was the effect of DDE’s financial policies?

13 Objective… Identify and explain the significance of DDE’s major legislative accomplishments.

14 8) Subsidizing Prosperity… Millions of Americans achieve middle class A. Nat. Defense. Ed. Act (1958)… B. Veterans Act… Emphasis on the importance of education. Driven by the fear that we are falling behind the Soviets in science & technology (…Sputnik launched in 1957) Grants to college students who went into education. Grants to universities to update science programs. The GI Bill was expanded beyond education Low interest mortgages & business loans to vets. Promotes the growth of the suburbs. the growth of the suburbs

15 C. Federal Highway Act… AKA: The Eisenhower Highway Act Builds 41K miles of highways in US Encourages suburb development Accelerates the decline of the cities Causes the under funding of mass transit The largest public works program in history http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdhJMKegnCIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdhJMKegnCI … Route 66

16 Following WW II, the FHA helped finance homes for returning veterans & their families. Facilitates the American dream of owning a house. Negatives… Favored new communities on the outskirts of cities… or favored suburban middle class developments; Favored single family homes v. multi-family; discriminated against minorities; Provided nothing to repair existing structures; Results in urban decay D. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) …

17 Objective… Summarize the trends in the 1950s culture.

18 I &E: Baby boom – The population explosion between 1946- 1964. 1957: 1 birth every 7 seconds 10M enter elementary school Toy sales: 12.5B Teacher shortages

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20 The Suburbs…  1957 - The Baby Boom peaks  1950s - Wm. Levitt mass produces homes  1950s - 13M homes built… 85% in the suburbs  1960’s - Urban areas are surrounded by suburbs

21 Levittown, NY-PA  1950s - Wm. Levitt mass produces homes… assembly line production  1950s – 13M homes built… 85% in the suburbs

22 Suburban Life 9) How do the following typify suburban life … A) Nuclear family & the suburban housewife…. B) Role of religion… “Stay at home Moms” … the efficient, charming homemaker Back to church in mass #s

23

24 How did many American women feel about their role as a homemaker? “ the key figure in all suburbia, the thread that weaves between family and community- the keeper of the suburban dream” UNHAPPY: Discontent, isolated, unchallenged, bored Women are frustrated Limited employment opportunities Unequal pay Little encouragement to do more than be a Mom 10) Betty Freidan…Her alternative view?...

25 1950s Sexist coffee advertisement… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRYfouuHPvs&feature=g- vrec&context=G2da5fe9RVAAAAAAAAAQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRYfouuHPvs&feature=g- vrec&context=G2da5fe9RVAAAAAAAAAQ

26 Lonely Crowds & Organization Men 11) According to critics what motivates Americans in the 1950s… “inner directed” vs. “other directed” Inner = Morality results from internal drive & self discipline Other = morality results from the need to conform

27 The Expansion of Higher Education 12) What were the reasons for the rapid expansion in college enrollment in the 1950s… The Boomers arrive at college The GI Bill (…applies to Korean vets) Nat Defense Ed Act Defense spending for research “White collar” expectations of society

28 Health & Medicine 13) Improvements in health & medicine after WW II… Advances in Medicine … Antibiotics widely distributed Open Heart Surgery Tuberculosis Diphtheria Whooping cough Measles Poliomyelitis

29 Jonas Salk - Developed the vaccine that eradicated Polio.

30 Dr. Benjamin Spock Recommended… -Stay at home mothers -No spanking -Stay at home Moms -Family meetings so that children can express themselves Baby and Child Care by Dr. Spock 10M sold in 1950s

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